I wanted to get some views on this subject. I have been actively considering an offer from accenture at manager level versus my current (senior) role as internal consultant in industry. Some of things that cross my mind and causing some confusion ...pls. help with your thoughts:(I know its a lonng message but would really help me!!! THanks!)(a) how different the job contents might be? Of course I do understand that mainstream consulting does offer a variety. But besides that.(b) considering that I may not be life long with accenture i.e. options down the road would be another consulting or industry. In that case if i move back to industry do I sort of step back in my career? (c) there is not significant difference in the salaries as such. Is it possible that I am being offered much less? Normally I would expect that consulting companies offer more salaries. Lookinng to some posts it seems I am already slotted at the highest end of manager salaries. I am in dilemma with that. any suggestions(d) job stability / secuirty concerns - I get nightmare thinking about 2001 / 2002 situations where consulting companies were letting go so many folks in one go. Even in industry it can happen but little chance. Even though I have reasonably well so far. Still....this aspect bothers me. What would you advise? am I just too concerned? What should I be ready for if i accept management job with accenture? (in contrast to industry?

I have simila concerns and questions. Any help / advise on the original post please ???

Learn to write well first. You write extremely poorly.

Hey, he/she is not being assessed so no need to cross all Ts and dot all Is. I am sure we all dont write in perfect English everytime we want to quickly put a point across.

as a consultant you need to get behind the 'face'. my dear friend you are still stuck at the 'writing well' part. yes, i did write in hurry but still i think you can get the point i am trying get answers to........so fire away your remarks.

a) More fixed deadlines and need to deliver something quickly without extending the time. Need to build relationships quickly.b) Depends. Why do you want to do it?c) Salaries are similar.d) I am worried every time I finish a project. Nowhere is safe and consultancy is less safe than permanent.

Very interesting view point. But I am thinking now, if salaries are similar; and there is more risk (or uncertainty) in mainstream consulting what would be the real reason one would pursue (or continue to) that option?I am trying to find reasons why would (a person like me) should / would make a jump to mainstream consulting? ....I do understadn in part it is related to individuals....still your view points will help me considering some things which I might have overlooked! thanks

Quite.In my case I was made redundant and could not get back in to industry at senior level so ended up consulting.Consultancies can see immediately if you are under-utilised and thus justify redundancy after a month, 6 months, a year or whenever they feel like it. On the other hand industry will cut the marketing budget before they cut the marketing director. This gives you a better cushion. They certainly won't make you redundant just because of one bad year.Personally I would only go for consulting if you are junior to broaden experience and go back to industry before you are 30; or to make a career of it (this is harder than it looks); or because you have to.

Thanks JJ!Your view point is indeed helpful to put another perspective to the whole thing. I am re-thinking about the idea...

I think the main advantage I would stress of consulting over internal consulting is your marketability once you decide to move on... and / or the potential that you make it to Partner.Being an internal consultant doesn't have the same cachet on a CV as being at a top branded consultancy. Rightly or wrongly, recruiters perceive it's harder to get into this type of consulting - and that it's a more cut-throat environment you'll have succeeded in if you manage to hold down such a position for several years. Also your "client exposure" will be deemed to have broader relevance and appeal if you have worked for multiple clients across eg. Financial Services than if you have just worked for one FS organisation.On the remuneration front, there are far more Partner roles for a good consultant to aspire to than there are Director-level FTSE 100 roles. And in a FTSE organisation you're competing with all the other employees to make it to one of these roles, not just your internal consulting peers. So I suspect that while the remuneration now may be quite similar, your chances of hitting the big time (remuneration-wise) are much greater if you are in mainstream consulting rather than internal consulting.Hope this helps and good luck with making your decision.Tony RestellTop-Consultant.com